Simple question about how I change gears, does it do any damage to the car?

Hi hi,

When I was driving around with a driving instructor, I'd be in 5th gear, and when I'd get to the lights or had to slow down, I'd just break and slow down and do one mass gear change from 5th to second. The car didnt make any noises like you'd expect if you went from 5th to 2nd because I wasnt going that fast. basically i just slowed down enough to be able to put it in second, and then to first if I stopped.



But the driving instructor told me that I needed to do 4 seperate gear changes from 5th to 1st. As in Clutch in, 4th, clutch in, 3rd. etc.



Its kinda hard to slow down and change gears progressively like that for me personally.



So the point is - ';Is doing mass gear changes detrimental to the car'; providing im going at the appropriate speed when changing into the desired gearSimple question about how I change gears, does it do any damage to the car?
You'll burn up the clutch and pressure plate by riding it for so long. The clutch is designed to be pushed in, then released in one smooth motion. It'll can get hot and burn up if you don't. Going through each gear (downshifting smoothly) also saves your brakes (brake pads and drums/disks), riding your brakes and the clutch will leave you calling for a ride. And both cost a lot to repair (time and money).Simple question about how I change gears, does it do any damage to the car?
It seems illogical to move down gears one by one to stop. You'd be putting more strain on the engine because you'd be engine braking as you released the clutch.



I've always ridden my motorcycle the way you described, and it has 6 gears. I think it's fine, but I can't assure you.
no as long as you dont grind, i'd be worry more about the clutch and engine mount.



BUT i dont see anything wrong from 5th to 2nd if you're going about 5-10mph.



i think that driving instructor is an idiot, you're putting more work on your clutch doing what he said.
umm i dnt thnk so

i just go frm 4th to 2nd then stop and put it in frst
either go in order 5-4-3-2, or shift to neutral and slow down to about 20mph then shift to 2nd...no ';mass'; change or bye bye tranny!
You can stop in any gear. It is unessary to change up or down gear by gear. Block changes are fine : 1 to 3 2 to 4 3 to 5 etc. Gears are there to match gears to speed, the clutch is more expensive than brake discs, so match engine speed to road speed on brakes not clutch.
That's fine. As long as you aren't going to fast when you do it, and so long as you don't abuse the clutch.
its fine as long as your not going to fast...
This instructor must have learnt to drive in stone age times when his feet could be seen on the ground when he was driving.



We call it block changing in this country. Not only is it acceptable to block change from 5th to 2nd, you can do it from 5th to 1st or even putting your handbrake on and selecting neutral after you've stopped. It all depends on the speed you will be moving off at after you've slowed down.



Picture this scenario..... You're driving along a motorway/freeway at 60mph or similar and you're in 5th gear and everything's going smoothly. Up ahead on the road there is either an accident or congestion. You have to slow down.... are you going to start flapping around doing all these unnecessary gear changes? What if you have to stop suddenly... where's the time to do all that?

Did this so called instructor get as far as doing an 'Emergency Stop' and if so, did he stress that you still had to go through all those crazy gear changes? I don't think so, otherwise any of his pupils on their test who were requested to carry out the Emergency Stop would have been failed by the examiner.

If you had to use every gear while slowing down, what happens to the 'engine brake' everytime you put the clutch down to do so? It wouldn't be there...... so it would take longer to get to the desired speed. If you have to stop suddenly, that's not such a good idea as it may not have happened in the time you had.



Another point.......



Not only is it expected for block changing the gears while slowing down, but it is also recognised to be acceptable nowadays to block gear change when you're accelerating too.

This would take place if for example you were joining a motorway/freeway where you have to increase your speed to that of the traffic on the road you are going to join.

3rd gear has a sufficient speed range (the higher the gear, the greater the speed range will be. ie. not only can you use this gear at 15-20mph, you could also use the same gear at 40 or 50mph).

If you can also use 5th gear at 40 or 50, then surely what the point in using 4th when it would be more fuel consuming to use 5th.



So basically....... not only is there no harm done to the car, but that's what you're supposed to do in modern times. Select the appropriate gear for your speed.



Sorry for getting a bit carried away, but hope that clears up any doubts implanted by a dinosaur /idiot.
If it is, then I have driven about a million miles, just like you.